Electric burglar-alarm.



S. B. HESS. ELECTRIC BUBGLAB ALARM. Al rmourou run!) In in, 1901.

901,171 Patgnted Oct. 13,- 1908.

U lt ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIMON B. HESS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC BURGLAR-ALAnMi Z Toall whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, SIMON B. Hnss, a citiof the United States, and a resident of f the city of New York, boroughot Manhattan, in the county and State of New York. have invented a new and Improved Electric Burf glar-Alarm, of which the following in a hill, clear, and exact description. i This invention relates to an improved 1 lar combination and possessing the proper switch-key, arrives to stopit.

More in detail, my invention con'iprises a main or protecting circuit having a battery and elcctro magnet and having portions of thecireuit adjacent to all the -.-"intlows doors or other possible entrance openings whichit is desired to protect. lnterl'ereuce with any of these will itheebrealq the circuit or short- Circuit the electro magnet, and in doing so deinergizes the same and permits the armature to drop. The droppin; ol' this arn1ature closes a second or alarm circuit having its battery and ele t ro magnet, and upon the energizing ol the latter the bell circuit is closed and the elockurorl; started in opera tion. This clock-work is designed to cause the bells to rin; iiitt-i'iiiitteiitly and may be employed, if desired, to stop the operation Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May. 27, 1907. Serial No. 375,891.

of one or more. of the bells after it has run: t

tuct located on the lower casing directly for a predeterminedlength of time. In oi der to stop the bells t'rom ringing l pro-rid n automatic sell-restoring tlrop in \,ll 'l no permanent .niagnets are tlsctl, and which i: controlled by a plurality of switch s, one or above the door andadapted to contact upoir more of which may beheld in place hr lot-ks,

wherebv a person cannot stop the hell or bells unless he. knows the |)tltlit'tll:il coinbi- Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

room. The casings for the bells preterahly l'orn'ied ol" two concentric, metal boxes" and t) having a layer ol insulating: material 7 therebetweeih and the outer casing constitutes a part of the main circuit. The current normally [lows l'roin the' battery I through a wire S to 'the outer box of the easing '1, through said casing and a wire 5) to the outer box of th casing it. Front here the current passes through a wire It) to a strip of tin-toil it or other suitable conducting means Sttllttlllitliiitj each ol' the windows and the transom, and from the last ol' these to a contact 12 located on a door t2 This door carries a removable screen ha yin; a wire 14 extending back and t'orth :lcross the same and terminating at a contact 1-. wire It) extends l'roiu the contact, if) on the door to a switch 17, from which the current llows through a wire to, coils ol lheelectro-mag- The return wire |t)'is connected to the inner box ol' the casing;- It by means ol" :1 tap wire 2t) passing Ireel through an opening in the outer box, whereby the electro magnet may be short circuited it the two boxes are brought in contact or. it any conductor, as, l'or instance, a screw-driver or other tool, is brought in contact with the two boxes si- .|nult'aneously. in this case the current would [low through the wire 8, casing 4, wire .l, outer box 5 to the inner box ti and return to the battery through wires 2t) and It).

(,onnccted with the lnair circuit at :1 point it is a tap wire 22. ha ring a branch 23; thereol extending to thcinner box ol' the casing -l and a second branch 2% extending to a conthe ripening ol the door with a terminal 25 connected to the wire to and carried by the 'lhese tap wires l'orln a. shunt around the electrtr-magnet to short circuitthe same it the door he opened or it a current is perinitted to How tli any manner from the inner to the. outer box of the casing 4. it this inaln circuit is broken at any point throughout its length. or it the battery or the coils 3 ol' the electro magnet are short-ctreulted in L not possible manner, the core of said electro oncgnet is deem-rained and an armature 26 The main or protecting circuit comprises a closes the second circuit and permits the posbattery I, the coils of an electro magnet J the |)l")i(ti1li,' 't'ilHlIlQSIi and l of the alnrn bells and all of the wmdow wind l i ot 1h allowed to drop onto a platinunipoiut located directly beneath the same.

snge'ol a current, from a battery 27 through a This wire is, armature 2o, switch 29, Wire 30, the

coils of an electro magnet 31, a wire 32, contact members 33 and 34 of a switch and wire 35, back'to the battery 27.

A current flowing through the second circuit energizes the electro magnet 31 and draws down its armature 36, one end of which slides past a catch 37 adapted to hold the armature in contact with the electro magnet, while the other end is provided with a hook normally contacti and holding in position the fan-wheel 38 o the clock-work, and also ada ted to slide on a contact 39 and close the be circuit.

The clock-work above referred to comprises a spiral spring 40 which, in uncoiling, starts in motion a train of gears comprising a wheel 4.1, a pinion 42, wheel 43, pimon 44,

wheel 45, plinion 46, wheel 47 and pinion 4.8 Y carrying t e fan-wheel 38. The wheel 43 carries a plurality of ins 49 which, upon the rotation of the whee come successively in contact with a spring terminal 50, while the wheel-45 carries a much larger number of pins contactin successivel with a spring terminal 51. lot these w eels and pinions are mounted on a metal plate 52 but are not insulated therefrom, whereby the plate and gears may constitute a portion of the bell circuit. The wheel 41 carries an arm 53, having mainder and adapted to contact and move two switches 54 and 55 mounted on a smaller plate insulated from the main plate 52.

As the bell circuit is closed by the energizing of the electro magnet 31 and the contact of the armature 36 and terminal 39, the current flows from the battery 27 through the wires 56 and 57 to the switc 54, whereby the single stroke bell is rung, and then flowsthrough the wire 58' to the terminal 51 and through the gears and plate 52 to the wire 59, armature 36, contact 39, wire 60, fin ers 61 and 34 of the switch andback to the attery through the wire 35. In this manner the single stroke bell is rung each time the s ring terminal 51 comes in contact with a 4 pm 'on the wheel 45. Meanwhile a branch circuit is formed from the'wire 56 through the wire 62, thevibratin bell in the casing 4 andwire 63to the switc 55, from which it flows throu h a short connection 64 to the plate 52 an there joins the current from the single stroke bell and returns to the battery as above described.

"If it is desired to shut off the single stroke bell or to ring the vibrating bell only intermittently, I provide the switches 54 and with short pins extending into the path of the arm'53. As this arm swings around it moves the switch 54, thus stopping the single stroke bell, and a short time later moves the switch 55. After the switch 55 is thrown, the current can flow from the vibrating bell. back-to the battery on] by passing throug 65 the wires 63 and 65 to t e spr ng terminal 50,

the outer end thereof insulated from the rewhich contacts with the pins 49 of the wheel 43 as the latter rotates. These pins 49 are preferably few in number and located a considerable distance apart, whereby the vibrating bell is rung intermittently as each of the pins 49 reaches the terminal 50 and permits. the lpassage of a current from said terminal to t e plate 52 and wire 59.

As any suitable chain ofgearing may be employed as well as a spring of any desired length, it is evident that when the protecting circuit flowing from the battery 1 is broken or short-circuited in any manner, the two or more alarm bells will ring either continuously or intermittently for a great len th of time, determined only by the life of t e batteries and the tension of the spring 40. Even although the protecting circuit is broken or short-circuited for only a fraction of a second, this short interval of time is amply suflicient for the armature 26 to drop,and the arm 36 to become locked in position by the catch 37 to close the alarm circuit.v

The ringing of the bells may be stopped at any desired time by the manipulation of certain switches located in any convenient place, but I preferably provide such a number of. switches, certain of which are essential and certainof which are non-essential, that it is practically impossible for a person to stop the ringing of the bells unless he is informed as to the particular combination of switches which it is necessary to operate in order to accomplish the desired result. As shown, these switches are four in number, two of which, 17 and 29, are normally closed while the other two, 66 and 67, are normally open, and any one or more of these switches may be held in their normal position by locks or other key or combination controlled mechanism. When the person in possession of the proper keys and knowledge of the proper switches to manipulate, arrives, the switches 17 and 29 areopened and the switches 66 and 67 are unlocked and closed. The current from the battery 1' may then flow through the wire 28, switches 66 and 67, wire 68, coils of the electro magnet 69 and back to the battery by a wire 70, whereby the core of the electro magnet 69 is energized and the catch 37 on the armature is drawn away from the end of the armature 36. This allows the sprin to pull down the end of the armature 36 an break the bell circuit at 39 and interfere with the fan-wheel 38 to stop the clock-work. As soon as the protecting circuit is again intact the switches are thrown back into their normal position, as indicated on the drawing, and the system is thus automatically restored to its operative condition.

All the parts of the system, and particularly the clock-work and electro magnets, are concealed within the walls or beneath the floor of the room, and the'only parts exposed are the bell casings and the switch-board.

The switch-board may, if desired, consist of a large number of push buttons so connected that to. stop the ringing of the bells it is necessary to push certain of them simnltane-.,

ously and avoidpushing certain others. whereby only a person knowing the proper buttons to be pushed can stop the ringing of the bells. Tlle'bells and bell casings may be located at any point desired, and the wires leading to the bellspreferably enter the easiug froln the side which is secured to the support, Wh0l'(l) \j the bell wires are thoroughly concealed. lf a person attempts to disconnect the bell to prevent its ringing and giving analarm, it is practically impossible for him to tlo sn without either breaking the wires connected to'thc outer box of the casing, .wluch would set oil the alarm, or bringing some tool or implement in contact with both the boxes at the same time, which would short-circuit the electro magnet 2 and also set oll' the alarm. The bell casings are prefcrablv provided with a large number of small openings so that the sound of the bell maybe distinctly heard: but. the insertion of any tool through saul openings to uuure or mutilate the hell would almost unavoidably pro- ,duce.ashort-t-ircuit and sound a warning.

n case the person knowing the combination by which the bells may be stopped is ab scntlor a considerable length of time alter the bells have once been started, it will be noted-that as the spring --ltl ol' the clock-work beconn-s unwound It will contact. with a short l(\"(I't l located adjacent theretoandt'hus disconnect the switch from the lingers 33. 34 and (it. which will stop the bells, but only after they have rung for several hours or even days, depending upon the length and tension ol'tlunspringlt).

In my improved electric burglar alarm as above described, it is impossible for any person to break or open any window, break or open the doors or remove the screen therefrom, or to mutilate or interfere wit. any of the bells without sounding an alarm; and this alarm cannot be stopped except by a person familiar with the proper method of doing so, while the alarm may be stopped and the entire system restored to its former condition in a few seconds by the proper manipulation of the switches.

Various changes may be made in the wiring, arrangement of the switches and colistruction of the clock-work and automatic restoring mechanism without departing from the spirit of my invention, as such changes will be obvious to one skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters i Patent:

I. In an alarm system, a closed protecting circuit including a protecting casing for an alarm signal and an electro-lnagnet outside of said casing, an. open. shunt around said protecting circuit for closing said alarm cirelectro-magnet including a second casing inclosing said alarm signal but spaced from the first-mentioned casing, and an alarm circuit controlled by said magnet and including the alarm signal within said casings anda'sourceof electrical energy outside-of said casin s. i

2. In an'alarm system, an alarm signal, two concentric rote'cting' casings inclosin solely said signal andspaced apart, a'close protecting circuit including an electro-n'iag-; not outside of said casings, said circuit being: connected to said casings at 0 posite sides of. the magnet, respectively, an an alarm circuit controlled by said magnet, includinga suitable source of electrical energy outside of the casings, said signal within the casings and conductors extending througbsboth cas ings but insulated therefrom. I

In combination, an alarm circuit, in,- cluding an alarm signal and a switch,- andiai mechanical motor including means for re peatedly making and breaking said circuit Independently ofthe switch to operate the signal intermittently, and means inde eiulent of said last-mentioned means for t IIOW- ing said switch after said alarm has been operated intermittently for a predetermined length of time.

4. In an alarm system, a protecting Circuit, an alarnrcircuit controlled thereby in eluding an alarm signal, a motor operating, to limit the/time of operation of the signal, means for releasing said motori-ipon the instantaneous breaking of the protecting cirg cui't, and means including an electrokmagnet for stopping said motor at will. I 1 V 5. In an alarm system, a rotecting cir-, cuit, an alarm circuit inclining an alarm signal, a motor, means controlled by the cuit and releasing said motor, means operated by the motor for repeatedly interrupting the alarm signal, means for holding said alarm circuit closed, and an electroonagnet for releasing said holding means.

6. In an alarm system, a rotecting circuit, an alarm circuit, a mec ianical motor, means controlled by the protecting circuit for closing the alarm circuit and releasing said motor, retaining means adapted to engage with said last-mentioned means, an electromaguet for releasing said retaining means, and a manually-controlled switch for tin-owing said clectromagnet into circuit.

7. .ln an alarm system, a protecting circuit, an alarm circuit controlled thereby including a battery, a signal, means for preventing the stopping of the signal upon the restoring of the protecting circuit, means for automatically stodping the signal aftern. pre- 125 determined length of time, and means ineluding a plurality of circuit closers, by the sinmltaneous opening of some and the closing of others of which the signal may be stopped at will.

8.4111 tem, s. ro re circuit ,'an alarm eontrolllid he i' e b y in- 1 cluding a battery, a si al, means for preventing stopping o the" signal upon the restori ofthe protecting circuit, means for auto 1: etc ping the signal after a redeteunined ngt of time, means inclu ing a plurality of circuit closers, by the simultamom of some and the closing of others 0 whic the signal may be stopped at will and means foro battery automatically after the alarm has been automaticall stopped after a predetermined length of time.

9. In an alarm stem, a protecting circuit, an alarm circuit including an alarm signal and an electro-magnet, a circuit closer operated by said electro-ma et, a catch engaging therewith for holding said circuit close independantlyof the passage of a current through saig magnet, a second magnet sal ca manual1cntrolle d switches for stopping electro-m said alarm,- one of said switches serving to break the circuit through the first-mentioned at and another switch serving to close a circiiif throlig'h the second magnet.

10. In combination a mechanical motor, an electromagnet, an armature therefor acting as a switch to close acii'cuit and also serving to controlsaid motor, a second armature having a catch adapted to engage with the first-mentioned armature and retain itin one of its'two positions, a second magnet for said second'armature, servingto release the first-mentioned armature andpermit the trolling the time of 0 all circuits fromtch, and a plurality of' opening of the switch, and manually-controlled means for closing the circuit to energi'ze said last-mentioned magnet.

11. In combination, a protecting circuit including an alarm signal, a motor 'for iconan electro-magnet, t e'armature of which serves as releasing. means for said motor and also as a circuit closer for the alarm signal, and a second electromagnet having the arration of said signal,

mature thereof adapted to engage with the first-mentioned armature and permit the continued operation of the motor and the holding of the circuit closed after the deenergizin r of the first-mentioned magnet.

12. ing circuit, including an electromagnet and wiring. carried by a closure and so disposed that the breaking of the closure breaks the circuit, an open shunt around said magnet and including terminals adjacent said closure and adapted tobe brought intocontact upon the opening of the closure, and one of said terminals being connected to the wiring on said closure, whereby saidopening of the closure will short-circuit the magnet, and an alarm adapted to be operated upon the deenergizing of said magnet.

In lJESt'ImQIIy WhGI'GOf I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. f

SIMON HESS.

Witnesses: EMIL GoLnBERGnn, SAMUEL RASCH.

11 an alarm system, a'closed' protect- I 

